Published: Friday, January 11, 2013 at 3:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 11, 2013 at 3:34 p.m.

Wesley A. Godwin, 52, and his brother David Keith Godwin, 50, both are convicted felons and are forbidden to possess firearms or ammunition.

While FWC officers were patrolling the Ocklawaha River, they saw turkey feathers floating on the water and followed the trail to a dock. They then followed ATV tracks to a small RV trailer and saw turkey feathers on the ground and inside a fire ring. Close to the fire ring were the remains of a squirrel.

The officers encountered Wesley Godwin, who had blood on his right foot. He told them the blood was from a squirrel he had shot and cleaned. He said he was at the site hunting squirrels and gave the officers seven pieces of .22-caliber ammunition. He told them he was not supposed to have any firearms.

The officers recovered a .22-caliber rifle, a hen turkey from a freezer and the remains of a squirrel on a large hook, which was attached to a large rope.

Godwin told the officers he was using the squirrel to try to catch an alligator.

The officers reviewed records that indicated Godwin has a prior felony driving conviction. He was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, taking turkey in closed season and attempting to take an American alligator. He was taken to the Marion County Jail.

FWC Officers Joseph J. Simpson and Joel Mims then went to the home of Godwin's parents, as they suspected there might be other weapons at the residence, which is where he lived.

There, they encountered his brother, David Godwin, who has had several felony convictions, including for attempted murder, burglary and alligator poaching.

Inside David's room, Simpson found multiple pieces of ammunition for a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22-caliber rifle, along with pills in bottles, metal spoons with burned white residue on the bottom, syringes and five metal smoking pipes.

Simpson noted in his report that David Godwin gave him a headache medication packet that contained burnt cannabis cigarettes and a black film can that contained blue and green pills.

The officer also recovered a plastic bottle that contained blue and pink pills.

During the investigation, David Godwin complained of chest pains and was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center for treatment. Upon his release from the hospital, he was booked into the Marion County Jail and charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance without prescription, possession of cannabis less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The mother of the men was reached by telephone Friday afternoon and declined to comment.

<p>FORT McCOY — Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers arrested two brothers Thursday on weapons and ammunition charges.</p><p>Wesley A. Godwin, 52, and his brother David Keith Godwin, 50, both are convicted felons and are forbidden to possess firearms or ammunition.</p><p>While FWC officers were patrolling the Ocklawaha River, they saw turkey feathers floating on the water and followed the trail to a dock. They then followed ATV tracks to a small RV trailer and saw turkey feathers on the ground and inside a fire ring. Close to the fire ring were the remains of a squirrel.</p><p>The officers encountered Wesley Godwin, who had blood on his right foot. He told them the blood was from a squirrel he had shot and cleaned. He said he was at the site hunting squirrels and gave the officers seven pieces of .22-caliber ammunition. He told them he was not supposed to have any firearms.</p><p>The officers recovered a .22-caliber rifle, a hen turkey from a freezer and the remains of a squirrel on a large hook, which was attached to a large rope. </p><p>Godwin told the officers he was using the squirrel to try to catch an alligator.</p><p>The officers reviewed records that indicated Godwin has a prior felony driving conviction. He was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, taking turkey in closed season and attempting to take an American alligator. He was taken to the Marion County Jail. </p><p>FWC Officers Joseph J. Simpson and Joel Mims then went to the home of Godwin's parents, as they suspected there might be other weapons at the residence, which is where he lived. </p><p>There, they encountered his brother, David Godwin, who has had several felony convictions, including for attempted murder, burglary and alligator poaching. </p><p>Inside David's room, Simpson found multiple pieces of ammunition for a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22-caliber rifle, along with pills in bottles, metal spoons with burned white residue on the bottom, syringes and five metal smoking pipes.</p><p>Simpson noted in his report that David Godwin gave him a headache medication packet that contained burnt cannabis cigarettes and a black film can that contained blue and green pills. </p><p>The officer also recovered a plastic bottle that contained blue and pink pills.</p><p>During the investigation, David Godwin complained of chest pains and was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center for treatment. Upon his release from the hospital, he was booked into the Marion County Jail and charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance without prescription, possession of cannabis less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.</p><p>The mother of the men was reached by telephone Friday afternoon and declined to comment.</p><p>Jail records showed Wesley Godwin remained there Friday afternoon.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>